Principal Inspector (Industrial)

WorkSafe Queensland is recruiting Principal Inspectors (Industrial) across multiple locations statewide, and we’re looking for leaders who can influence, educate, and enforce safety standards across some of Queensland’s highest-risk industries. As Queensland’s work health and safety regulator, working with the Office of Industrial Relations is more than a job it’s a chance to directly reduce serious injuries and fatalities and help build safer workplaces for every Queenslander.

WorkSafe Queensland is recruiting Principal Inspectors (Industrial) across multiple locations statewide, and we're looking for leaders who can influence, educate, and enforce safety standards across some of Queensland's highest-risk industries. As Queensland's work health and safety regulator, working with the Office of Industrial Relations is more than a job it's a chance to directly reduce serious injuries and fatalities and help build safer workplaces for every Queenslander.

About The Role

As a Principal Inspector (Industrial), you'll lead and mentor operational teams, guide complex investigations and work closely with industry to improve health and safety outcomes. Your role will support and drive the implementation of the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, ensuring we meet the community's expectations around compliance, accountability, and enforcement.

This is a role for someone who can balance leadership, technical capability and sound judgement and who can confidently engage with businesses, workers and senior stakeholders in high-pressure situations.

About The Team

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ):

• Enforces work health and safety laws.
• Investigates workplace fatalities and serious incidents.
• Prosecutes breaches of legislation.
• Educates employers and workers on safety obligations.

Your Key Responsibilities

Generally, you will bring:

• Strong written communication, time-management and leadership skills.
• Extensive experience applying safety protocols, compliance frameworks or enforcement principles.
• The capacity to navigate complex or challenging conversations with confidence and professionalism.
• The ability to mentor and guide inspectors, contribute to a positive safety culture, and influence industry toward compliance.
• A commitment to making a visible, meaningful contribution to workplace safety across Queensland.

If you're used to leading teams, making sound operational decisions, and maintaining high standards under pressure, your skills will transfer seamlessly.

Why Apply?

As a Queensland Public Sector Employee, You'll Benefit From

• Strong employment security.
• Competitive salary and superannuation.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Health and wellbeing programs.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

This is the ideal role for someone who wants to lead, influence and use their experience to ensure workers return home safely every day.

Submit

How to Apply:

• Your resume, and
• A letter or statement (maximum two pages) that addresses the following three (3) questions:
• What motivated you to apply for the Principal Inspector (Industrial) role, and how does this position align with your leadership experience, values and long-term career goals?
• Describe a time when you led a team or took a leadership role in applying safety protocols, regulatory requirements or enforcement activities in a high-risk or operational environment. What was the situation, your actions, and the outcome?
• Principal Inspectors often deal with complex, sensitive or high-pressure situations. Provide an example of a time you managed a difficult stakeholder interaction.

How did you approach it and what was the result?

This position may require pre-employment checks and testing.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.

Job Ad Reference: QLD/689137/26

Closing Date: Friday, 29 May 2026

Occupational group Occupational Health & Safety